by AJ Sherwood
His mind circled back around, and Cameron questioned something he hadn’t had time to think of before. “Baldewin. Ravi found me first.”
“Yes?”
“But how did he find me? I mean, did you guys use a spell or something? You picked me out of the crowd somehow.”
Baldewin seemed happy to hear the question. “Our mages in the clan attempted a seeking spell, but it hadn’t locked on to you before Ravi found you. We can smell your magic.”
Cameron blinked at him. Then blinked again. “Uhh…you serious?”
“Quite serious.”
“Well, that puts a different spin on things. You’re literally saying I smell like magic to you?”
“Precisely as our other mages do. Yes. Your blood sings with it.” Baldewin shot him a slight smile, bordering on enigmatic. “You know that scent in the air, right before a major lightning storm sweeps through? Where it smells electrifying and moist and full of power? That’s what magic smells like.”
Cameron absorbed that information, sat with it for several seconds. So, it wasn’t like the spell they used had misfired or got tangled up and gave the wrong results. They weren’t relying on a spell at all, but their own senses. Kind of hard to argue with that. Cameron could see precisely one flaw in their logic.
“Okay, but—hear me out—but what if I’m not really magical? What if I’m more a recessive gene, a carrier of magic, but it’s not active in me?”
Baldewin was a good listener. He didn’t immediately shoot Cameron down but thought about it for a long moment. “I can see why you asked that question. I don’t believe that’s the case. People who are recessive carriers of magic don’t smell that way. They smell like your average human. We don’t detect anything from them.”
“Oh.” Cameron took in a deep breath, held it, let it out again. Okay, that was a more direct answer than he actually knew what to do with. His brain felt fit to bursting, like a water balloon on the edge of exploding. Maybe he should stop asking questions.
So, of course, his mouth immediately came out with another one. “Alric—should I be calling him the king or something? I never got to ask earlier.”
“No, it’s not necessary. He’s not truly a formal person. Unless he corrects you, feel free to use his name.”
“Okay, thanks, that worried me. Anyway, Alric hinted that things were wrong earlier. That mages are somehow important to you guys? Why? I don’t get the link.”
Baldewin shot him that measuring look again, as if weighing how much to tell him. “We don’t have time for a full explanation before reaching your hotel, but will a simple one suffice for now?”
“I think simple is all my brain can handle right now.”
“Very well. Dragons cannot have children with each other. It is only through mages that we are able to bear children.”
Cameron stared at him, a man waiting for a punch line. When none came, he blurted, “Wait, can male mages get pregnant?!” Cameron suddenly had a vision of himself nine months along and carrying twins and ye gods, no.
“What?” Baldewin responded in equal alarm and surprise. “No! No, I didn’t mean that. We have alternative, magical means for same sex couples to have children. It’s just that the majority of mages are female, you see. It’s predominantly through them that we have children. The other reason mages are so important is that dragons have no ability to work magic. So we only have the magics we do because of our mage clan members. Much of our protections and such come from our mages. Our numbers have dwindled badly over the years. We’re tough, but not immune to disease or injury. People sometimes get into accidents or contract a disease even magic can’t cure. And no mage mates means no children to replenish our population, and it is—” Baldewin sighed and for a moment looked a century older than the late thirties he appeared. “It breaks my heart, to tell you the truth. Our mages have always been a joy to us. Not only because they help us have children, but because of the magic and wonder they bring with them. Most of us have been without mates for over five hundred years. So few mages survived the war. We protect any we find automatically.”
“But I’m the first you’ve found in five hundred years, or so you said.”
“Correct. It gives me hope to see you. It means magic is trying to revive in the world again. We’ve perhaps latched onto you too strongly, and alarmed you in the process, but you understand now why we did? You—and probably your family as well—are a beacon of hope that we’d given up as lost.”
That did put it into perspective as nothing else had. He tried to put himself in their shoes. What would it be like to go years upon decades upon centuries, needing something desperately only to not find it? Where no matter how hard you looked, it was nowhere to be found? Would it be like googling something and getting a million hits in return? Congratulations, what you’re looking for is somewhere on Planet Earth. Good luck. Just the mental image of it left a bad taste in his mouth.
Did that mean he was more comfortable with everything dumped on him today? No way in hell. But he did feel like he at least understood where they were coming from.
Cameron felt like he’d exchanged one set of questions for another, but the hotel was already in sight and he didn’t have much time before Baldewin dropped him off. He didn’t even know where to begin on his second list of questions. But he did know that if he didn’t tell his grandmother about this shortly, she’d fly to Germany even with her bad knee just to whack him. So there was that to look forward to.
“I think I need time to process all of this before I’m ready to talk again.”
Baldewin gave him a hopeful smile, the curve of his mouth tentative, brows raised a little. “But you do want to talk again?”
“I have no choice on that, trust me. My sister’s already hyperventilating, she’s so excited, and my grandmother will be in the same boat as soon as I tell her.” Cameron wasn’t sure about his parents. They also viewed Halmeoni as crazy. Fifty-fifty odds they’d take it well. But that was a different problem for a different day. Not today, that was for sure.
“But do you want to talk about it again?” Baldewin asked in a strangely penetrating way.
Did he? Cameron’s brain swam with facts and questions, so it was a little hard to tell right now. “I guess I do. I want to understand it all better.”
“Then please talk with us again.” Baldewin slowed at the curb, coming to a stop in the passenger loading zone.
Cameron opened the door, got one foot out, and then stalled there. He did feel bad about snapping at Alric earlier. He felt like he owed the man an apology and maybe a second chance for them to get on a better footing. Cameron had dreamed about magic being real all throughout his childhood. It seemed a shame to reject it as an adult just because it didn’t sit well immediately.
Making a quick decision, he turned to look at Baldewin. “Tell Alric to come pick me up at nine a.m. And don’t be late.”
A smile bloomed over Baldewin’s face. “I’ll do that. Here, exchange numbers with me. Just in case.”
With a nod, he paused long enough to give his number to Baldewin and to program both Baldewin’s and Alric’s in return. Cameron got out, closing the door behind him, and immediately questioned himself. Did he seriously just tell a dragon king to not be late? Muttering to himself, he headed for the front lobby doors of the hotel. “I’ve either got bigger balls than I gave myself credit for or I’m crazy. The man can roast me if I piss him off. Suck in a breath and bam, charcoal.”
His phone rang, and he lifted it to see the caller. Halmeoni. Of course, it was. It figured she was still awake. He answered it with resignation. “What, did Cassie call you before going back to sleep?”
“Yes, because she’s a good grandchild,” Halmeoni answered in her cute, accented English. She sounded pissed enough to broil him over a spit right now, though. Her accent always got thicker when she was mad. “What’s this I hear about you meeting dragons?”
“Yeah…that just happened. I, uh, didn’t know they stil
l were around?” Cameron picked his words carefully, as he was still passing people in the halls, and he didn’t want to speak carelessly. He sped up a little, trying to get to his room so he could talk freely.
Halmeoni sounded beyond excited. If she wasn’t bouncing in her favorite chair, he’d be surprised. “Which clan?”
“Hang on just one sec, I’m in the hallway and getting into my room.” He juggled phone and wallet, pulled out the electronic pass key, and let himself into the room. With the door closed behind him, he let out a breath of relief. “Fire Clan.”
Halmeoni made a sound only dogs could hear. “Fire Clan! You’re sure?”
“Veeery sure, trust me on that. One of them went dragon form to prove it to me. Good god, Halmeoni, but they’re huge in dragon form!”
She cackled like a mad witch. “I’m so glad you finally believe me.”
Cameron really had no good defense there. So he chose not to comment. “Thing is, Halmeoni, they haven’t seen another mage in five hundred years.”
“WHAT!”
“Seriously. They’ve been looking this whole time, and right now their clan is in bad shape because no new mages. So they’re latching onto me pretty hard right now because apparently I smell strongly of magic?”
Her excitement somehow impossibly tripled. “So, you are a mage!”
“No,” he protested, exasperated as he dropped down to sit on the edge of the queen-sized bed. “I—”
“I always suspected you were. You and your sister. So analytical in how you think, and the way you see the world and can put the pieces together. A mage’s mind.”
“Will you please focus? The point is, the Noh Clan was known for magic, and once they put it together that I’m a descendent of that clan, and that I have family, they’re now very interested in meeting the rest of you.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. When Halmeoni spoke again, it was with all the wonder and joy of a small child. “They want to meet me too?”
Cameron smiled, a little helplessly, because it was cute how excited she was by all of this. And really, he felt like he was helping to make a dream come true for her. “They are literally on the edge of their seats, dying to meet you. They have so many questions for you.”
“Tell them I’ll look at flights. Damn, I need to get my hair redone first. The purple’s fading.”
Cameron felt like he needed to give the dragons here a head’s up.
Brace yourself. Halmeoni is coming.
Alric drove up to Cameron’s hotel promptly at nine o’clock the next day, simply grateful that the man was willing to give him a second chance. He was going to take it a little slower this time. Move at a pace Cameron was comfortable with. He couldn’t afford to scare him off.
He touched his tie, making sure it was still perfectly in place. He was dreadfully overdressed for the final day of the festival, but Alric didn’t possess much in the way of casual wear. It was expected that he always appear pulled together. A show of strength. He wanted to at least present as someone his people could have confidence in.
The summer sun was only now warming the city as the shadows were chased away. It would be a pretty day, it seemed.
Alric had a speech in his head, an apology to give, but it faltered almost immediately as he pulled up to the front of the hotel. Cameron wasn’t sedately standing outside, oh no. He had a leg out like a woman showing off, pulling his pants up a bare inch to show a slice of ankle. It was such an absurd pose that Alric stared for a full second, befuddled, before bursting out laughing.
Cameron waggled his eyebrows in an outrageous manner as Alric pulled up and stopped. He opened the door, leaning around the side to give Alric an outrageous eyebrow waggle again. “You couldn’t help but stop for that sexy ankle, am I right?”
Alric’s helpless laughter continued. “Absolutely. The sexiness of your ankle did me in. A siren’s call too hard to resist.”
“I’ve got exceptional ankles, I know. I don’t unleash them on men often. Causes too many car accidents.” He hopped into the car, a smile on his face as if he knew he’d broken the ice and was smug about it.
Alric was so relieved at Cameron’s teasing he could have wept. Far too many hopes rested on Cameron, and their connection was far too tenuous to put much weight upon. Seeing him here, smiling, after he’d stormed out yesterday allayed his fears. Still, he felt the urge to clear the air, too. Not just leave things unspoken and swept under the rug. “About yesterday, I’m sorry things did not proceed how you’d likely hoped. I was too focused on discerning what you do know and what you didn’t, and failed to consider your own reaction to it all. I genuinely enjoyed spending the day with you, and would like very much to repeat it. If you wish, we can return to the castle for that tour. No talk of dragons or mages. Just you and me walking around the castle. Or Baldewin if you’d rather talk with him. Ravi can also be quite fun once you get used to him.”
Cameron stared at him for a second and then looked around them as if making sure no one was close enough to overhear him before he leaned close to say, “You’re not very bossy for a king. I thought kings were bossy.”
Alric sat startled for a second. All his grumbly thoughts about not wanting to share him with Baldewin or Ravi were completely forgotten. His dragon peeked its head up, intrigued by Cameron’s words. He wasn’t criticizing. No, that was clear with the playful smile on his lips. Cameron was teasing him.
Leaning in close so that his lips were just an inch from Cameron’s ear, Alric whispered, “I can be as bossy as you want me to be.”
Pulling back on a gasp, Cameron looked at him, his cheeks flushing beautifully before he started to laugh. Just maybe Alric had been forgiven.
As his laughter died away, Cameron shook his head. “No, I want to stay at the festival today.” Cameron ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back off his forehead. “Yesterday…I’m sorry I lost my temper. I shouldn’t have. You’re just looking out for your people.”
“Thank you for giving me another chance. It might not seem like it, but I’m looking out for you too. I truly believe you are a mage. I think you’d enjoy learning magic, and as my advisor has pointed out to me on more than one occasion, finding your mate greatly improves your happiness.”
Cameron waved his hands at Alric and a nervous little laugh left his parted lips. “Let’s skip the mate talk for the moment. We can keep it to dragons and mages for now.”
“I think we can manage that.” He pulled the car around to the parking lot near the hotel, as that was the safest place to leave it with the festival going on. They got out there, locking the car with a click of the fob. “What would you like to see today?”
Cameron shrugged. “Let’s just wander the festival for now, peek in the artists’ stalls. I should get something for my sister since she’s upset that she’s not here meeting the dragons.”
“Your sister would be very welcome to visit Burkhard castle anytime she wishes,” Alric said smoothly. Alric started them down the block toward the heart of the festival thoroughfare. The foot traffic on the sidewalks was still relatively light, and most of it appeared to be families with young children.
Walking beside him, Cameron bumped him with his elbow and smirked. “Uh-huh. I’m sure that has nothing to do with the fact that you think my sister and I are mages.”
Alric tried to give his best innocent look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s just a nice, neighborly offer as your friend.”
Cameron cackled, the sound bouncing off the buildings around them. “First you offer to be bossy, and now you’re neighborly.”
Alric grinned at him, purposefully bumping him with his arm. “I’m trying to be charming, so you’ll forgive me for yesterday’s debacle. Is it working?”
Groaning, Cameron held up both of his hands as if in supplication. “No, not a charming Alric. I can’t handle it,” he pleaded between giggles. “You’re forgiven. Just turn off the charm.”
A bit of smugness swelled
in Alric’s chest. He liked making Cameron smile. It was satisfying, for some reason. He wanted to keep Cameron laughing all day. However, he suspected it wouldn’t get him any closer to the young mage staying with them. To accomplish that, he needed Cameron to become invested in his lost heritage. And that meant talking about the very things that had upset him so much the previous day.
“It’s good to know that I have a secret weapon should I need it,” Alric murmured. He directed Cameron down another street, leading them to the main square for the festival with rows of vendor stalls. A stage was set up at the far end for local bands and performers, but it was still empty at the early hour. Colorful pennants flapped in the breeze that carried wonderful scents of coffee and cinnamon.
“I don’t think the world could handle a charming Alric,” Cameron said with a sly smile. He breathed deeply and sighed. “But if you want a secret weapon, all you need to do is feed me. I smell sugar, yeast, cinnamon, and coffee, and I want all of that.”
“Then you shall have all of that.” He placed a hand carefully against Cameron’s lower back, guiding him forward toward the food vendors.
“Maybe you’re wrong about the mage thing. Maybe I’m a dragon,” Cameron said.
“Really? Why do you think that?”
“Because I am endlessly hungry, and I figure I’m trying to fill a dragon-sized stomach.”
Alric huffed a laugh. “I’ll have you know that our appetites are generally human-sized. Except for Baldewin. I’ve seen him inhale enough food for three men while seated at a banquet. And Gunter. He gets caught up with his research and forgets to eat unless someone reminds him. Even then, he picks at food like a bird.”
“Gunter?”
“The royal historian. He makes chronicles of our history, but also conducts research into our past and tries to uncover knowledge that will help us find our lost mage clans.”
Cameron stopped walking, a small frown on his lips. “Royal historian. And Ravi is?”